Latest KFF Health News Stories
To Curb Illegal Buying, Maine May Try Allowing Marijuana Deliveries
News outlets cover a new bill introduced in Maine that would allow recreational dispensaries to deliver legally-bought weed to buyers’ homes. Separate reports say that gross sales have topped $1.2 billion since recreational marijuana went on sale in Arizona a year ago.
FBI Raids Covid Testing Site Company
The company has been reimbursed over $124 million from the federal government for covid tests. Earlier, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office filed a consumer-protection lawsuit against the company. Modern Healthcare, meanwhile, says large insurers lack consumer-friendly test coverage.
No Cloth Masks Allowed In LA Schools; Virginia In Chaos Over New Mask Rules
In Virginia, the new Republican governor’s mask-optional mandate starts today. Many people have vowed to fight or uphold the order with everything they can muster, including one Virginia mom who was charged Friday after threatening to bring loaded guns to school.
Study: Covid Shots Don’t Reduce Fertility, But Getting Covid Might
Researchers looking at the impact of covid vaccines on fertility say there’s no reduction in chances of becoming pregnant. But some evidence for short-term reduction in male fertility after a covid infection was found. Meanwhile, another study shows Moderna outperforms Pfizer against delta.
FDA Expands Use Of Remdesivir For Some Non-Hospitalized Covid Patients
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Gilead Sciences’ antiviral treatment remdesivir to be administered outside of a hospital for some mild-to-moderate covid patients. The intravenous drug that is infused over three days would have to be delivered at an outpatient clinic.
CDC: Booster Shots 90% Effective At Preventing Omicron Hospitalization
The three studies published Friday are by far the most comprehensive and reliable assessments of the role booster shots are playing in the U.S. pandemic, The New York Times reported, noting that the researchers reviewed millions of cases and tens of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths.
Short-Staffing Forces Some Hospitals To Limit Beds Even With Patient Surge
Hospital administrators face difficult choices as a spike of covid patients seek treatment in their overtaxed facilities. Meanwhile, nurses, doctors and other health workers try to cope with the latest surge.
Walensky Says CDC Is ‘Pivoting The Language’ On Vaccination Definitions
While those who has completed their original covid vaccine protocol will still be defined as “fully vaccinated,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky says the agency will start emphasizing the need to be “up to date” with a booster shot. Walensky also spoke about the state of the U.S. public health system during an interview with Politico.
In Other States Like Arkansas And Alaska, Omicron Cases Are Climbing
Both states smashed records over the weekend. Meanwhile in Houston, the city is poised to hit 400,000 covid cases Monday, just a month after hitting 300,000.
As Cases Fall In Some States, Fauci Says Omicron Will Peak By Mid-February
While cautioning that this covid virus has “surprised” us in the past, Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC “This Week” that the case trends “are looking good. We don’t want to get overconfident, but they look like they’re going in the right direction right now.”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Different Takes: Weighing The Benefits Of Doctor-Hospital Integration; Will Roe V. Wade Survive?
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Opinion writers break down the future of covid and the effects on our health care work force.
All US Olympians Are Fully Vaccinated; No One Requested Exemptions
Every one of the 200-plus athletes going to the Beijing Winter Olympics is reported to be fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities are limiting the traditional torch relay to just three days. In France, covid restrictions are due to be lifted soon, and Austria mandated shots for adults.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KHN finds longer stories for you to enjoy. This week’s selections include stories on food poisoning, toxic waste, dementia, exercise, covid and more.
Florida Workers Pay Among The Most For Health Insurance
A study from the Commonwealth Fund found Florida employees paid more for health insurance than in nearly every other state. A different report sheds light on why Chicago’s air quality didn’t get as much as a reprieve during the pandemic as other places: It’s diesel fuel’s fault.
Some Health Providers Are Getting Paid To Answer Emails
In other news, Florida’s health providers and insurers have been given permission to use their own dispute resolution process instead of the federal No Surprises Act system. Florida’s orthopedic surgeons are also in the news for suing HCA, alleging anticompetitive conduct.
Not So Fast: Lawmakers Criticize CIA’s Report On Causes Of Havana Syndrome
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-Va.) revealed that the intelligence community’s expert panel on Havana Syndrome will wrap up its work “in about 10 days,” and he questioned why the CIA would release its assessment ahead of that group’s work, Politico reported.
Another Human Xenotransplant Success Achieved, With Pig Kidneys
The organ transplant success saw genetically altered pig kidneys functioning inside a patient, who was already brain dead, for over 70 hours. In other news, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a quarter of U.S. adults are too sedentary to protect their health.
Study Says Early Intervention Could Stop Kids’ Peanut Allergies
Scientists gave increasing doses of peanut protein powder to toddlers and found that after two and a half years, nearly three quarters could tolerate as much as 16 peanuts without allergic reactions. A pacifier recall, the impact of sugar on kids’ development, and more are in the news.
